An emergency patrols a fire in the Gippsland region in Australia's Victoria state on February 7, 2009 - Photogallery

An emergency patrols a fire in the Gippsland region in Australia's Victoria state on February 7, 2009. Raging wildfires swept southeastern Australia killing at least 25 people and razing some 100 homes as scorching temperatures and gale-force winds combined into a deadly inferno. (AP Photo) ()

An emergency patrols a fire in the Gippsland region in Australia's Victoria state on February 7, 2009. Raging wildfires swept southeastern Australia killing at least 25 people and razing some 100 homes as scorching temperatures and gale-force winds combined into a deadly inferno. (AP Photo)

In this image rendered from video and released by AuBC, CHANNEL 9 via APTN, dense smoke rises from wildfires burning near a community in Victoria state on February 7, 2009, north of Melbourne, Australia - Photogallery

In this image rendered from video and released by AuBC, CHANNEL 9 via APTN, dense smoke rises from wildfires burning near a community in Victoria state on February 7, 2009, north of Melbourne, Australia. Police say the death toll from wildfires that swept southeastern Australia has risen to 25 people. (AP Photo) ()

In this image rendered from video and released by AuBC, CHANNEL 9 via APTN, dense smoke rises from wildfires burning near a community in Victoria state on February 7, 2009, north of Melbourne, Australia. Police say the death toll from wildfires that swept southeastern Australia has risen to 25 people. (AP Photo)

In this image rendered from video released by AuBC, CHANNEL 9 via APTN, wildfires burn near a community in Victoria state on February 7, 2009, Australia - Photogallery

In this image rendered from video released by AuBC, CHANNEL 9 via APTN, wildfires burn near a community in Victoria state on February 7, 2009, Australia. Police say the death toll from wildfires that swept southeastern Australia has risen to 25 people. (AP Photo) ()

In this image rendered from video released by AuBC, CHANNEL 9 via APTN, wildfires burn near a community in Victoria state on February 7, 2009, Australia. Police say the death toll from wildfires that swept southeastern Australia has risen to 25 people. (AP Photo)

A Country Fire Authority (CFA) staff monitor a giant fire raging in the Bunyip State Park near Labertouche, some 125 kilometres west of Melbourne on February 7, 2009 - Photogallery

A Country Fire Authority (CFA) staff monitor a giant fire raging in the Bunyip State Park near Labertouche, some 125 kilometres west of Melbourne on February 7, 2009. More than 40 blazes raged across two states as a once-in-a-century heatwave pushed the mercury as high as 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) with fire bans in place with conditions said to be the worst. (AFP Photo/William West) ()

A Country Fire Authority (CFA) staff monitor a giant fire raging in the Bunyip State Park near Labertouche, some 125 kilometres west of Melbourne on February 7, 2009. More than 40 blazes raged across two states as a once-in-a-century heatwave pushed the mercury as high as 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) with fire bans in place with conditions said to be the worst. (AFP Photo/William West)